The John Plankinton statue standing in the Plankinton Building’s central rotunda was temporarily removed Thursday morning and placed in storage while its base undergoes restoration. The base is in need of repair to regain structural stability. A new fountain will be added to the statue site during the restoration process, and aquatic life will be included in the creation of it. Officials plan to complete restoration by December 2012.
John Plankinton is a 19th century Milwaukee icon and was particularly influential in Milwaukee’s civic and industrial growth. He ventured into business in the meat market and eventually owned the biggest meat packing company in the world with Patrick Cudahy, Frederick Layton and Philip Armour.
Plankinton is also noted for building the Plankinton House Hotel in 1868 at the location of the Plankinton Building. He erected a bronze statue of himself at the hotel, which was moved to its current spot in the rotunda in 1915 when the hotel was replaced by the current Plankinton Building.
